Semiconductor device used in step-up DC-DC converter, and step-up DC-DC converter

ABSTRACT

A power supply device is disclosed that is able to satisfy the power requirements of a device in service and has high efficiency. The power supply device includes a first power supply; a voltage step-up unit that steps up an output voltage of the first power supply; a voltage step-down unit that steps down an output voltage of the voltage step-up unit; and a load that is driven to operate by an output voltage of the voltage step-down unit. The voltage step-up unit steps up the output voltage of the first power supply to a lower limit of an operating voltage of the voltage step-down unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device which includes aswitching element and a diode element, and is used in a step-up DC-DCconverter, and a step-up DC-DC converter including the semiconductordevice.

2. Description of the Related Art

Portable electronic devices, as typified by cellular phones, are appliedto various fields at an explosive pace, and have been widely accepted.The portable device is driven by batteries. When a voltage higher thanthe output voltage of the batteries is required by the portable device,it is necessary to use a step-up transformer circuit. Usually, thestep-up transformer circuit can be formed by a step-up DC-DC converter.For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 9-84333(hereinafter referred to as “reference 1”) and Japanese Laid-Open PatentApplication No. 2001-154627 (hereinafter referred to as “reference 2”)disclose step-up DC-DC converters.

FIG. 32 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of the step-upDC-DC converter.

The step-up DC-DC converter shown in FIG. 32 includes an inductor (coil)201, a diode element 203, a switching element 205, and a capacitor 207.An end of the coil 201 is connected to a DC (direct current) powersupply 209, and another end of the coil 201 is connected to an anode ofthe diode element 203. One end of the switching element 205 is connectedto a connection point A between the coil 201 and the diode element 203,and the other end of the switching element 205 is connected to ground(GND). One end of the capacitor 207 is connected to a cathode of thediode element 203, and the other end of the capacitor 207 is connectedto ground (GND). The cathode of the diode element 203 is connected to anoutput terminal B.

When the switching element 205 is turned ON, an electrical current flowsthrough the DC power supply 209, the coil 201, the switching element205, and to ground (GND). For example, if the resistance of theswitching element 205 is 0Ω (ohm), the voltage at the connection point Ais 0 V, a reverse bias is applied on the diode element 203, and thevoltage induced on the capacitor 207 is output.

When the switching element 205 is turned OFF, a back electromotive forceoccurs on the two ends of the coil 201, and a voltage higher than aninput voltage is induced at the connection point A. At this moment, aforward bias is applied on the diode element 203 and a current flowsthrough the DC power supply 209, the coil 201, the diode element 203,and the output terminal B.

By switching ON and switching OFF the switching element 205 of thestep-up DC-DC converter repeatedly, an output voltage higher than theinput voltage can be extracted from the step-up DC-DC converter.

Generally, as disclosed in reference 2, the switching element 205 may bea MOS transistor, the diode element 203 may be an external part, and forexample, may be a semiconductor device having a built-in Schottky diode.

In the step-up DC-DC converter as shown in FIG. 32, when the switchingelement 205 is switched ON, the voltage at the connection point A isbasically 0 V, and the voltage at the output terminal B is at a highlevel. However, this may cause reverse bias leakage in the diode element203. Especially, when the diode element 203 is formed of a Schottkydiode, in which a metallic element is connected to a semiconductorlayer, a reverse voltage leakage current may become large.

In addition, since the back electromotive force on the coil 201 isproportional to a current change per unit time, it is required that theswitching element 205 be capable of high speed switching.

Further, when the switching element 205 is switched OFF, the voltage atthe connection point A and the output terminal B is at a high level, anda high voltage reverse bias is applied on the drain of the switchingelement 205, which is formed from a MOS transistor. Due to this, whenjunction leakage and off leakage (off state source-to-drain leakage)occur, the voltage at the connection point A may decrease gradually.

The above problems may reduce conversion efficiency of the DC-DCconverter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention may solve one or more problems of the related art.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention may provide asemiconductor device used in a step-up DC-DC converter including aswitching element and a diode element in the same semiconductorsubstrate and having high conversion efficiency, and a step-up DC-DCconverter including the semiconductor device.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provideda semiconductor device used in a step-up DC-DC converter, comprising:

a switching element;

a diode element formed in the same semiconductor substrate as theswitching element;

a switching terminal; and

an output terminal,

wherein

-   -   the switching element includes a LDMOS transistor having a        channel region formed of a surface portion of a channel        diffusion layer below a gate electrode of the LDMOS, said LDMOS        transistor comprising:        -   a source diffusion layer,        -   a channel diffusion layer that has a conductivity opposite            to a conductivity of the source diffusion layer, and is            formed to enclose a side surface and a bottom surface of the            source diffusion layer, and        -   a drain diffusion layer that has a conductivity the same as            the conductivity of the source diffusion layer, and is            formed outside and neighboring the channel diffusion layer,    -   the diode element includes a vertical bipolar transistor        comprising:        -   a collector diffusion layer that forms a collector of the            diode element,        -   a base diffusion layer that has a conductivity opposite to a            conductivity of the collector diffusion layer, and forms a            base of the diode element in the collector diffusion layer,            said base being connected to the collector, and        -   an emitter diffusion layer that has a conductivity the same            as the conductivity of the collector diffusion layer, and            forms an emitter of the diode element in the base diffusion            layer, a diode being produced between the base and the            emitter,        -   wherein        -   a drain of the switching element and an anode of the diode            element are connected to the switching terminal, and        -   a cathode of the diode element is connected to the output            terminal.

For details of the LDMOS, for example, reference can be made to JapaneseLaid-Open Patent Application No. 2001-68561 (hereinafter referred to as“reference 3”) and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2003-86790(hereinafter referred to as “reference 4”).

As an embodiment, the diode element may have a base contact diffusionlayer that has a conductivity the same as the conductivity of the basediffusion layer, and is formed in the base diffusion layer, and

the base contact diffusion layer is separated from the emitter diffusionlayer at a an interval and is formed to enclose the emitter diffusionlayer.

More preferably, the semiconductor device further comprises:

a collector contact diffusion layer that has a conductivity the same asthe conductivity of the collector diffusion layer, and is formed in thecollector diffusion layer,

a portion of the base contact diffusion layer arranged between theemitter diffusion layer and the collector contact diffusion layer isformed to be adjacent to the collector contact diffusion layer.

As an embodiment, in the semiconductor device,

the diode element comprises:

a collector contact diffusion layer that has a conductivity the same asthe conductivity of the collector diffusion layer, and is formed on asurface of the collector diffusion layer;

a field oxide film that is formed from a LOCOS oxide film deposited on asurface of a portion of the base diffusion layer between the emitterdiffusion layer and the collector contact diffusion layer; and

a second base diffusion layer that is disposed on a portion of the basediffusion layer below the field oxide film,

wherein

an impurity concentration of the second base diffusion layer is higherthan an impurity concentration of the base diffusion layer.

As an alternative embodiment, in the semiconductor device,

the diode element comprises:

a collector contact diffusion layer that has a conductivity the same asthe conductivity of the collector diffusion layer, and is formed on asurface of the collector diffusion layer; and

a field oxide film that is formed from a LOCOS oxide film deposited on asurface of a portion of the base diffusion layer between the emitterdiffusion layer and the collector contact diffusion layer,

wherein

a part of the surface of the portion of the base diffusion layer betweenthe emitter diffusion layer and the collector contact diffusion layer isnot covered with the field oxide film.

As an embodiment, the drain diffusion layer and the collector diffusionlayer have the same impurity concentration distribution.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provideda step-up DC-DC converter, comprising:

a semiconductor device;

a coil; and

a capacitor,

wherein

-   -   the semiconductor device includes        -   a switching element;        -   a diode element formed in the same semiconductor substrate            as the switching element;        -   a switching terminal in connection to a coil; and        -   an output terminal in connection to one end of a capacitor,        -   wherein            -   the switching element includes a LDMOS transistor having                a channel region formed from a surface portion of a                channel diffusion layer below a gate electrode of the                LDMOS, said LDMOS transistor comprising:                -   a source diffusion layer,                -   a channel diffusion layer that has a conductivity                    opposite to a conductivity of the source diffusion                    layer, and is formed to enclose a side surface and a                    bottom surface of the source diffusion layer, and                -   a drain diffusion layer that has a conductivity the                    same as the conductivity of the source diffusion                    layer, and is formed outside and neighboring the                    channel diffusion layer,            -   the diode element includes a vertical bipolar transistor                comprising:                -   a collector diffusion layer that forms a collector                    of the diode element,                -   a base diffusion layer that has a conductivity                    opposite to a conductivity of the collector                    diffusion layer, and forms a base of the diode                    element in the collector diffusion layer, said base                    being connected to the collector, and                -   an emitter diffusion layer that has a conductivity                    the same as the conductivity of the collector                    diffusion layer, and forms an emitter of the diode                    element in the base diffusion layer, a diode being                    produced between the base and the emitter,        -   wherein            -   a drain of the switching element and an anode of the                diode element are connected to the switching terminal,            -   a cathode of the diode element is connected to the                output terminal,            -   one end of the coil is connected to the switching                terminal, and

one end of the capacitor is connected to the output terminal.

According to the semiconductor device and the step-up DC-DC converter ofthe present invention, the switching element includes the LDMOS, and thediode element includes a PN junction diode.

According to the step-up DC-DC converter of the present invention, thestep-up DC-DC converter includes a semiconductor device, a coil, and acapacitor, and one end of the coil is connected to the switchingterminal of the semiconductor device, and one end of the capacitor isconnected to the output terminal of the semiconductor device.

Since the switching element includes the LDMOS, it is possible to reducethe leakage current when a high reverse bias is applied on the drain ofthe switching element.

Further, since the diode element includes a PN junction diode, it ispossible to reduce the reverse voltage leakage current compared to thecase when a Schottky diode is used.

As a result, it is possible to improve the conversion efficiency of thestep-up DC-DC converter.

According to the semiconductor device of the present invention, thediode element may have a base contact diffusion layer that has aconductivity the same as the conductivity of the base diffusion layer,and is formed in the base diffusion layer, and the base contactdiffusion layer is separated from the emitter diffusion layer at aninterval and is formed to enclose the emitter diffusion layer.Therefore, it is possible to reduce the reverse bias leakage currentcompared to the case when a frame-like base contact diffusion layer isabsent, and it is possible to improve the conversion efficiency of thestep-up DC-DC converter.

In addition, according to the semiconductor device of the presentinvention, the semiconductor device further comprises a collectorcontact diffusion layer that has a conductivity the same as theconductivity of the collector diffusion layer, and is formed in thecollector diffusion layer, and a portion of the base contact diffusionlayer arranged between the emitter diffusion layer and the collectorcontact diffusion layer is formed to be adjacent to the collectorcontact diffusion layer.

When the portion of the base contact diffusion layer is separated fromthe collector contact diffusion layer by an interval, it is necessary touse a mask (for example, a photo resist) for ion implantation whenforming the interval, or to form a field oxide film on the outer surfaceof the base diffusion layer, for example, a p-type well diffusion layer.Due to usage of the ion implantation mask, the region for forming thebase diffusion layer has to be enlarged accordingly.

In contrast, in the present invention, since the portion of the basecontact diffusion layer is adjacent to the collector contact diffusionlayer, it is not necessary to use the ion implantation mask.

Therefore, compared to the case in which the portion of the base contactdiffusion layer is separated from the collector contact diffusion layerby an interval, when the portion of the base contact diffusion layer isadjacent to the collector contact diffusion layer, the region forforming the base diffusion layer can become small; thus, it is possibleto reduce the size of the diode element, and this makes layout of thedevice easy.

In addition, according to the semiconductor device of the presentinvention, the diode element may have a collector contact diffusionlayer having the same conductivity as the collector diffusion layer, andformed on a surface of the collector diffusion layer; a field oxide filmwhich is formed from a LOCOS oxide film deposited on a surface of aportion of the base diffusion layer between the emitter diffusion layerand the collector contact diffusion layer; and a second base diffusionlayer disposed on a portion of the base diffusion layer below the fieldoxide film, and the second base diffusion layer having an impurityconcentration higher than that of the base diffusion layer.

Therefore, it is possible to reduce the reverse bias leakage currentcompared to the case when the second base diffusion layer is absent, andhence it is possible to further improve the conversion efficiency of thestep-up DC-DC converter. This configuration is particularly effective ina structure in which the base diffusion layer is formed from a p-typediffusion layer, and the p-type impurities below the field oxide filmare sucked out by the field oxide film.

In addition, according to the semiconductor device of the presentinvention, the diode element may have a collector contact diffusionlayer having the same conductivity as that of the collector diffusionlayer and formed on a surface of the collector diffusion layer; and afield oxide film which is formed from a LOCOS oxide film deposited on asurface of a portion of the base diffusion layer disposed between theemitter diffusion layer and the collector contact diffusion layer, and apart of the surface of the portion of the base diffusion layer betweenthe emitter diffusion layer and the collector contact diffusion layer isnot covered with the field oxide film.

Therefore, it is possible to reduce the reverse bias leakage currentcompared to the case when the surface of the base diffusion layerbetween the emitter diffusion layer and the collector contact diffusionlayer is totally covered with the field oxide film, and hence it ispossible to further improve the conversion efficiency of the step-upDC-DC converter. This configuration is particularly effective in astructure in which the base diffusion layer is formed from a p-typediffusion layer, and the p-type impurities below the field oxide filmare sucked out by the field oxide film.

In addition, according to the semiconductor device of the presentinvention, the drain diffusion layer and the collector diffusion layerhave the same impurity concentration distribution. Due to this, thedrain diffusion layer and the collector diffusion layer can be formed inthe same impurity implantation step; this simplifies the fabricationprocess compared to the case in which the drain diffusion layer and thecollector diffusion layer are formed in different steps.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of preferred embodiments given with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a switching element and adiode element according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a plan view of the switching element shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the switching element at a positionX-X as indicated in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view of the switching element at a positionY-Y as indicated in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3A is a plan view of the diode element shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the diode element at the positionX-X as indicated in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view of the switching element at theposition Y-Y as indicated in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a MOS transistor and aresistor, which form a controller in the present embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram illustrating a step-up DC-DC converterincluding the semiconductor device of the present embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a timing chart illustrating operations of the step-up DC-DCconverter as shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7A through FIG. 7C are cross-sectional views illustrating part of amethod of producing the semiconductor device of the present embodimentas shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8A through FIG. 8C, continuing from FIG. 7C, are cross-sectionalviews illustrating part of the method of producing the semiconductordevice of the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 9A through FIG. 9C, continuing from FIG. 8C, are cross-sectionalviews illustrating part of the method of producing the semiconductordevice of the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 10A through FIG. 10C, continuing from FIG. 9C, are cross-sectionalviews illustrating part of the method of producing the semiconductordevice of the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 11A through FIG. 11C, continuing from FIG. 10C, are cross-sectionalviews illustrating part of the method of producing the semiconductordevice of the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 12A through FIG. 12C, continuing from FIG. 11C, are cross-sectionalviews illustrating part of the method of producing the semiconductordevice of the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 13A through FIG. 13C, continuing from FIG. 12C, are cross-sectionalviews illustrating part of the method of producing the semiconductordevice of the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 14A through FIG. 14C, continuing from FIG. 12C, are cross-sectionalviews illustrating part of the method of producing the semiconductordevice of the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 15A through FIG. 15C, continuing from FIG. 12C, are cross-sectionalviews illustrating part of the method of producing the semiconductordevice of the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 16A through FIG. 16C, continuing from FIG. 15C, are cross-sectionalviews illustrating part of the method of producing the semiconductordevice of the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 17A through FIG. 17C, continuing from FIG. 16C, are cross-sectionalviews illustrating part of the method of producing the semiconductordevice of the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 18A through FIG. 18C, continuing from FIG. 17C, are cross-sectionalviews illustrating part of the method of producing the semiconductordevice of the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 19A is a plan view of the diode element according to the secondembodiment;

FIG. 19B is a cross-sectional view of the diode element at a positionX-X as indicated in FIG. 19A;

FIG. 19C is a cross-sectional view of the diode element at a positionY-Y as indicated in FIG. 19A.

FIG. 20A and FIG. 20B are graphs respectively illustrating properties ofthe diode element shown in FIG. 3A through FIG. 3C, which does not haveslits, and the diode element shown in FIG. 19A through FIG. 19C, whichhas the slits;

FIG. 21A illustrates measurement results of the conversion efficiency ofa DC-DC converter, which is equivalent to the DC-DC converter shown inFIG. 5 with the diode element being replaced by the diode element shownin FIG. 19A through FIG. 19C;

FIG. 21B illustrates measurement results of the conversion efficiency ofa DC-DC converter for comparison, in which a built-in Schottky diode isused as the diode element;

FIG. 22A is a plan view of the diode element according to the thirdembodiment;

FIG. 22B is a cross-sectional view of the diode element at a positionX-X as indicated in FIG. 22A;

FIG. 22C is a cross-sectional view of the diode element at a positionY-Y as indicated in FIG. 22A;

FIG. 23 illustrates measurement results of the conversion efficiency ofa DC-DC converter, which is equivalent to the DC-DC converter shown inFIG. 5 with the diode element being replaced by the diode element shownin FIG. 22A through FIG. 22C;

FIG. 24A is a plan view of the diode element according to the fourthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 24B is a cross-sectional view of the diode element at a positionX-X as indicated in FIG. 24A;

FIG. 24C is a cross-sectional view of the diode element at a positionY-Y as indicated in FIG. 24A;

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of illustrating a step of the methodof producing the semiconductor device of the present embodiment as shownin FIG. 24A through FIG. 24C, which is executed between the step in FIG.14B and the step shown in FIG. 14C;

FIG. 26A is a plan view of the diode element according to the fifthembodiment;

FIG. 26B is a cross-sectional view of the diode element at a positionX-X as indicated in FIG. 26A;

FIG. 26C is a cross-sectional view of the diode element at a positionY-Y as indicated in FIG. 26A;

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a step of the method ofproducing the semiconductor device of the present embodiment as shown inFIG. 26A through FIG. 26C, which replaces the step in FIG. 13B;

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a step of the method ofproducing the semiconductor device of the present embodiment as shown inFIG. 26A through FIG. 26C, which replaces the step in FIG. 17A;

FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a step of the method ofproducing the semiconductor device of the present embodiment as shown inFIG. 26A through FIG. 26C, which replaces the step in FIG. 18A;

FIG. 30A is a plan view of the diode element which is a modification tothe fifth embodiment;

FIG. 30B is a cross-sectional view of the diode element at a positionX-X as indicated in FIG. 30A;

FIG. 30C is a cross-sectional view of the diode element at a positionY-Y as indicated in FIG. 30A;

FIG. 31 presents measurement results of dependence of the reverse biasleakage current on the temperature of the diode elements shown in FIG.3A through FIG. 3C, FIG. 19A through FIG. 19C, FIG. 24A through FIG.24C, and FIG. 26A through FIG. 26C, respectively; and

FIG. 32 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of the step-upDC-DC converter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Below, preferred embodiments of the present invention are explained withreference to the accompanying drawings.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a switching element and adiode element according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the semiconductor device of the present embodimentmainly includes a switching element, for example, a LDMOS (LaterallyDiffused Metal Oxide Semiconductor), and a diode element.

Next, the switching element of the present embodiment is explained withreference to FIG. 2A through FIG. 2C.

FIG. 2A is a plan view of the switching element shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the switching element at a positionX-X as indicated in FIG. 2A,

FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view of the switching element at a positionY-Y as indicated in FIG. 2A.

Here, the structure shown in FIG. 2B (and the structure shown in FIG.3B, as described below) correspond to the structure shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 2A through FIG. 2C, in the present embodiment, theswitching element is formed of an n-channel LDMOS.

Here, illustration of a field oxide film for element separation and anoxide film for electric field relaxation is omitted in FIG. 2A. Forexample, a field oxide film 3 may be formed in a p-type semiconductorsubstrate (Psub) 1, which has a specific resistance of about 20Ω cm, bymeans of LOCOS (Local Oxidation of Silicon).

As shown in FIG. 2A through FIG. 2C, an n-type well diffusion layer 5(indicated as NW1 in FIG. 2A through FIG. 2C and corresponding to adrain diffusion layer of the LDMOS) is formed in a portion of asemiconductor substrate 1 in the LDMOS region, a p-type body diffusionlayer 7 (indicated as PB in FIG. 2A through FIG. 2C and corresponding toa channel diffusion layer of the LDMOS) is formed in the n-type welldiffusion layer 5, and an n-type source diffusion layer 9 (indicated asN+ in FIG. 2A through FIG. 2C) and a p-type high concentration diffusionlayer 11 (indicated as P+ in FIG. 2A through FIG. 2C) are formed in thep-type body diffusion layer 7. The p-type high concentration diffusionlayer 11 extracts the potential of the p-type body diffusion layer 7.The n-type source diffusion layer 9 is at an interval from the peripheryof the p-type body diffusion layer 7, and is formed to be a frame toenclose the p-type high concentration diffusion layer 11.

A lightly doped n-type well diffusion layer 13 (indicated as LNW in FIG.2A through FIG. 2C), which has an n-type impurity concentration higherthan that of the n-type well diffusion layer 5, is formed in the n-typewell diffusion layer 5. The lightly doped n-type well diffusion layer(LNW) 13 is formed to be a frame to enclose the p-type body diffusionlayer 7.

An n-type high concentration diffusion layer 15 (indicated as N+ in FIG.2A through FIG. 2C) is formed in the lightly doped n-type well diffusionlayer (LNW) 13 at an interval from the p-type body diffusion layer 7.

The n-type well diffusion layer 5, the lightly n-type well diffusionlayer (LNW) 13, and the n-type high concentration diffusion layer (N+)15 form the drain of the LDMOS.

As shown in FIG. 2B, a gate oxide film 17 is formed over the n-type welldiffusion layer 5 between the n-type source diffusion layer 9, then-type high concentration diffusion layer (N+) 15, and the p-type bodydiffusion layer 7; a poly-silicon gate electrode 19 is formed on thegate oxide film 17. The surface of the p-type body diffusion layer 7,which is below the poly-silicon gate electrode 19, constitutes a channelregion of the LDMOS. An electric field relaxation oxide film 21 isformed on the lightly n-type well diffusion layer (LNW) 13. The gateelectrode 19 is formed to expand on the gate oxide film 17 up to anelectric field relaxation oxide film 21.

A side surface of the gate electrode 19 on the side of the electricfield relaxation oxide film 21 is arranged on the electric fieldrelaxation oxide film 21 at an interval from an end of the electricfield relaxation oxide film 21 on the side of the n-type highconcentration diffusion layer (N+) 15. The electric field relaxationoxide film 21 is separately formed relative to the field oxide film 3,and is thicker than the gate oxide film 17. The cross-sectional shape ofthe electric field relaxation oxide film 21 in a thickness direction isapproximately a trapezoid. But the shape of the electric fieldrelaxation oxide film 21 is not limited to a trapezoid. For example, thefield oxide film 3 may be used as the electric field relaxation oxidefilm 21.

A p-type well diffusion layer 23 is formed in the semiconductorsubstrate 1 surrounding the n-type well diffusion layer 5; a p-type bodydiffusion layer 25 is formed in the p-type well diffusion layer 23 toenclose the region where the n-type well diffusion layer 5 is formed.

The p-type well diffusion layer 23 and the p-type body diffusion layer25 electrically isolate the LDMOS from other elements. The field oxidefilm 3 covers the surfaces of the p-type well diffusion layer 23 and thep-type body diffusion layer 25.

Next, the diode element of the present embodiment is explained withreference to FIG. 3A through FIG. 3C.

FIG. 3A is a plan view of the diode element shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the diode element at the positionX-X as indicated in FIG. 3A, the same as that in FIG. 2A,

FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view of the switching element at theposition Y-Y as indicated in FIG. 3A, the same as that in FIG. 2A.

Here, the structure shown in FIG. 3B (and the structure shown in FIG.2B, as described above) correspond to the structure shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 3A through FIG. 3C, the diode element of the presentembodiment has a vertical bipolar transistor structure, in which a PNdiode is produced between a base and an emitter, and the base isconnected to a collector to shield the PN diode from the p-typesemiconductor substrate Psub.

It should be noted that illustration of a field oxide film is omitted inFIG. 3A.

An n-type well diffusion layer 27 (indicated as NW1 in FIG. 3A throughFIG. 3C and corresponding to a collector diffusion layer of the diodeelement) is formed in a portion of the semiconductor substrate 1 in thediode element region enclosed by the field oxide film 3. A p-type welldiffusion layer 29 (indicated as PW-DI in FIG. 3A through FIG. 3C, andcorresponding to a base diffusion layer of the diode element) is formedin the n-type well diffusion layer 27. An n-type body diffusion layer 31(indicated as NB in FIG. 3A through FIG. 3C and corresponding to anemitter diffusion layer of the diode element) is formed in the p-typewell diffusion layer 29.

An n-type high concentration diffusion layer 33 (indicated as N+ in FIG.3A through FIG. 3C), which has an n-type impurity concentration higherthan that of the n-type body diffusion layer 31, is formed in the n-typebody diffusion layer 31.

In the present embodiment, the planar shapes of the n-type bodydiffusion layer 31 and the n-type high concentration diffusion layer(N+) 33 are rectangles.

As shown in FIG. 3A, in the p-type well diffusion layer 29, there aretwo groups of the n-type body diffusion layer 31 and the n-type highconcentration diffusion layer 33; the two groups of the n-type bodydiffusion layer 31 and the n-type high concentration diffusion layer 33are arranged to be on the same straight line in the longitudinaldirection of the p-type well diffusion layer 29, but are separated fromeach other by an interval.

The planar shape of the p-type well diffusion layer 29 is also arectangle, and has the same longitudinal direction as those of then-type body diffusion layer 31 and the n-type high concentrationdiffusion layer 33 (indicated as N+ in FIG. 3A through FIG. 3C).

In the n-type well diffusion layer 27, an n-type well diffusion layer(indicated as NW2 in FIG. 3A through FIG. 3C) 35 is formed along thelongitudinal direction of the p-type well diffusion layer 29 at aninterval from the p-type well diffusion layer 29. The n-type welldiffusion layer (NW2) 35 has an n-type impurity concentration higherthan that of the n-type well diffusion layer 27.

An n-type high concentration diffusion layer 37 (indicated as N+ in FIG.3A through FIG. 3C and corresponding to a collector contact diffusionlayer of the diode element) is formed on the n-type well diffusion layer(NW2) 35 in the n-type well diffusion layer 27. The n-type highconcentration diffusion layer 37 has an n-type impurity concentrationhigher than that of the n-type well diffusion layer 35.

P-type high concentration diffusion layers 39 (indicated as P+ in FIG.3A through FIG. 3C and corresponding to the base contact diffusionlayers of the diode element) are formed in the p-type well diffusionlayer 29 in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of thep-type well diffusion layer 29. The p-type high concentration diffusionlayers 39 have a p-type impurity concentration higher than that of thep-type well diffusion layer 29.

The p-type high concentration diffusion layers 39 are arranged tocorrespond to the two ends of the longitudinal side of the n-type bodydiffusion layers 31, and are at intervals from the two ends of then-type body diffusion layers 31.

The surfaces of the n-type body diffusion layers 31 and the p-type welldiffusion layer 29 between the n-type high concentration diffusionlayers (N+) 33 and the n-type high concentration diffusion layer 37 arecovered with a field oxide film 3 a (refer to FIG. 3B). The surfaces ofthe n-type body diffusion layers 31 and the p-type well diffusion layer29 between the n-type high concentration diffusion layers (N+) 33 andthe p-type high concentration diffusion layers 39 is covered with afield oxide film 3 b (refer to FIG. 3C). A p-type field dope layer 41 isformed below the field oxide film 3 a and the field oxide film 3 b insuch a way that the field dope layer 41 does not overlap the n-type bodydiffusion layer 31.

Similar to the LDMOS region, the p-type well diffusion layer 23 and thep-type body diffusion layer 25 are formed in the semiconductor substrate1 surrounding the n-type well diffusion layer 27. The field oxide film 3covers the surfaces of the p-type well diffusion layer 23 and the p-typebody diffusion layer 25. The p-type field dope layer 41 is formed belowthe field oxide film 3 in the p-type well diffusion layer 23 and thep-type body diffusion layer 25 surrounding the diode element.

As shown in FIG. 1, the n-type high concentration diffusion layer (N+)15 of the LDMOS (drain) is connected to a switching terminal 43, and thep-type well diffusion layer 29 (base) and the n-type high concentrationdiffusion layer 37 (collector) of the diode element are also connectedto the switching terminal 43. The n-type high concentration diffusionlayer (N+) 33 (emitter) of the diode element is connected to the outputterminal 45.

The n-type source diffusion layer 9 and the p-type high concentrationdiffusion layer 11 of the LDMOS are connected to ground (GND).

A control signal is input to the gate electrode 19 of the LDMOS.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a MOS transistor and aresistor, which form a controller in the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4, an n-channel MOS transistor (below, referred to as“NMOS”) is provided in a region different from the LDMOS region and thediode element region. A p-type well diffusion layer 47 (indicated as PWin FIG. 4) is formed in a portion of the semiconductor substrate 1 inthe NMOS region. The NMOS region is separated from other element regionsby the field oxide film 3 and the field dope layer 41.

In the present embodiment, for example, the NMOS has a LDD (lightlydoped drain) structure, and includes a source-drain diffusion layer 49,which has a LDD (lightly doped drain) structure, a gate oxide film 51, agate electrode 53, and a sidewall 55. It is certain that the NMOS is notlimited to the LDD structure.

A p-channel MOS transistor (below, referred to as “PMOS”) is provided ina region different from the LDMOS region, the diode element region, andthe NMOS region. An n-type well diffusion layer 57 (indicated as NW2 inFIG. 4) is formed in a portion of the semiconductor substrate 1 in thePMOS region. The PMOS region is separated from other element regions bythe field oxide film 3.

In the present embodiment, for example, the PMOS has a LDD (lightlydoped drain) structure and includes a source-drain diffusion layer 59that has a double diffusion structure, a gate oxide film 61, a gateelectrode 63, and a sidewall 65. It is certain that the PMOS is notlimited to the LDD structure.

In addition, although it is described that there are provided one NMOStransistor and one PMOS transistor, which serve as the MOS transistorsof the controller of the present embodiment, the present embodiment isnot limited to this. For example, plural types of NMOS and PMOS may beformed, which have different transistor properties. To implement thecontroller of the present embodiment, any kind of MOS transistorsgenerally used in semiconductor devices can be used.

A resistor element 67 formed of poly-silicon is provided on the fieldoxide film 3, and a sidewall 69 is formed on the side surface of theresistor element 67.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram illustrating a step-up DC-DC converterincluding the semiconductor device of the present embodiment.

In this example, it is assumed that the step-up DC-DC converter of thepresent embodiment is used to light four LEDs (Light Emission Diodes).

The semiconductor device used in the step-up DC-DC converter of thepresent embodiment is packed as an IC chip 71. As shown in FIG. 5, thestep-up DC-DC converter of the present embodiment includes the IC chip71, the switching terminal (SW) 43, the output terminal (Vout) 45, apower supply terminal (Vin) 73, a ground terminal (GND) 75, and afeedback terminal (FD) 77.

A DC power supply 79 is connected between the power supply terminal(Vin) 73 and the ground terminal (GND) 75, and a coil 81 is connectedbetween the DC power supply 79 and the switching terminal (SW) 43. Acapacitor 83 and a cascade LED circuit 85 are connected in parallelbetween the output terminal (Vout) 45 and the ground terminal (GND) 75.

In the IC chip 71, there are formed a switching element 87, a diodeelement 89, and a control circuit 91.

The control circuit 91 includes a feedback circuit 93, a PWM (PulseWidth Modulation) circuit 95, and a drive circuit 97.

The switching element 87 includes the n-channel LDMOS as described withreference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2A through FIG. 2C.

The diode element 89 includes the vertical bipolar diode structure asdescribed with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3A through FIG. 3C.

The control circuit 91 includes the MOS transistor and resistor asdescribed with reference to FIG. 4.

It should be noted that the semiconductor device of the presentembodiment is not limited to the above configuration, but can have anystructure as long as the switching element, the diode element, theswitching terminal, and the output terminal are provided.

The drain of the switching element 87 and the anode of the diode element89 are connected to the switching terminal 43. The source of theswitching element 87 is connected to the ground terminal (GND) 75. Thecathode of the diode element 89 is connected to the output terminal(Vout) 45. The feedback terminal (FD) 77 is connected to the feedbackcircuit 93 of the control circuit 91.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart illustrating operations of the step-up DC-DCconverter as shown in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 6, the switching element 87 is repeatedly turned ON andOFF by the control circuit 91. For example, the control circuit 91controls ON and OFF of the switching element 87 based on a feedbacksignal from the feedback terminal (FD) 77.

When the switching element 87 is turned ON, a current flows through theDC power supply 79, the coil 81, the switching terminal (SW) 43, theswitching element 87, and the ground terminal (GND) 75 in order. In thiscase, a reverse bias is applied on the diode element 89, and the voltageinduced on the capacitor 83 is output to the cascade LED circuit 85.

When the switching element 87 is turned OFF, a back electromotive forceoccurs on the two ends of the coil 81, and a voltage higher than aninput voltage is induced at the switching terminal (SW) 43. In thiscase, a forward bias is applied on the diode element 89 and a currentflows through the DC power supply 79, the coil 81, the switchingterminal (SW) 43, the diode element 89, the output terminal 45, and thecascade LED circuit 85.

By switching ON and switching OFF the switching element 87 of thestep-up DC-DC converter repeatedly, an output voltage higher than theinput voltage can be extracted from the step-up DC-DC converter.

According to the semiconductor device and the step-up DC-DC converter ofthe present embodiment, since the LDMOS is used as the switchingelement, and a PN junction diode is used as the diode element, theleakage current can be reduced, and it is possible to improve theconversion efficiency of the step-up DC-DC converter.

Below, a method of producing the semiconductor device as shown in FIG. 4is described with reference to FIG. 7A through FIG. 18C.

In the following descriptions, unevenness might be formed on asemiconductor substrate surface due to formation and removal of athermal oxide film, but the unevenness is not expressly illustrated inFIG. 7A through FIG. 18C. In addition, descriptions of some steps, suchas RCA cleaning, are omitted.

FIG. 7A through FIG. 7C are cross-sectional views illustrating part of amethod of producing the semiconductor device of the present embodimentas shown in FIG. 4.

In the step shown in FIG. 7A, a not-illustrated buffer oxide film isdeposited on a semiconductor substrate 1 to a thickness of 25 nm (250angstroms), then a silicon nitride film 101 is deposited on the bufferoxide film to a thickness of 100 nm (1000 angstroms).

In the step shown in FIG. 7B, a photo resist 103 is formed, which hasopenings respectively corresponding to the LDMOS region and the diodeelement region.

The silicon nitride film 101 is removed by etching with the photo resist103 as a mask. Then, with the photo resist 103 as a mask, phosphorusions (indicated by triangles “Δ” in FIG. 7B), which serve as N-typeimpurities, are implanted into the semiconductor substrate 1 at animplantation energy of 160 keV and a dose of 3.4×10¹² cm⁻².

In the step shown in FIG. 7C, the photo resist 103 is removed. Then,thermal processing is performed on the semiconductor substrate 1 at atemperature of 1180° C. for 14.5 hours to form the n-type well diffusionlayer 5 in the LDMOS region, and form the n-type well diffusion layer 27in the diode element region. In this step, a silicon oxide film isformed on surfaces of the LDMOS region and the diode element region.

In this way, the n-type well diffusion layer 5 (corresponding to thedrain diffusion layer of the LDMOS) and the n-type well diffusion layer27 (corresponding to the collector diffusion layer of the diode element)are formed at the same time; hence, the n-type well diffusion layer 5and the n-type well diffusion layer 27 have the same impurityconcentration.

FIG. 8A through FIG. 8C, continuing from FIG. 7C, are cross-sectionalviews illustrating part of the method of producing the semiconductordevice of the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 4.

In the step shown in FIG. 8A, a photo resist 105 is formed, which has anopening corresponding to the diode element region. With the photo resist105 as a mask, a silicon oxide film, which is formed on the surface ofthe n-type well diffusion layer 27 in the diode element region, isremoved.

In the step shown in FIG. 8B, the photo resist 105 is removed. Then,thermal oxidation processing is performed on the semiconductor substrate1 to form a buffer oxide layer (not illustrated) on the surface of then-type well diffusion layer 27.

A photo resist 107 is formed, which has an opening corresponding to thep-type well diffusion layer 29 in the diode element region (refer toFIG. 3A through FIG. 3C). With the photo resist 107 as a mask, boronions (indicated by crosses “X” in FIG. 8B), which serve as P-typeimpurities, are implanted into the semiconductor substrate 1 at animplantation energy of 30 keV and a dose of 1.5×10¹³ cm⁻².

In the step shown in FIG. 8C, the photo resist 107 is removed. Then,thermal oxidation processing is performed on the semiconductor substrate1 at a temperature of 1150° C. for 3.5 hours to form the p-type welldiffusion layer 29 in the n-type well diffusion layer 27.

FIG. 9A through FIG. 9C, continuing from FIG. 8C, are cross-sectionalviews illustrating part of the method of producing the semiconductordevice of the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 4.

In the step shown in FIG. 9A, a photo resist 109 is formed, which has anopening corresponding to the PMOS region and the n-type well diffusionlayer 35 in the diode element region (refer to FIG. 3A through FIG. 3C).With the photo resist 109 as a mask, the silicon nitride film 101 isremoved by etching. In this step, a part of a silicon oxide film exposedin the opening of the photo resist 109 in the diode element region isalso removed. Then, with the photo resist 109 as a mask, phosphorus ions(indicated by triangles “Δ” in FIG. 9A) are implanted into thesemiconductor substrate 1 at an implantation energy of 160 keV and adose of 7.7×10¹² cm⁻².

In the step shown in FIG. 9B, thermal processing is performed on thesemiconductor substrate 1 to form the n-type well diffusion layer 57 inthe PMOS region, and the n-type well diffusion layer 35 is formed in then-type well diffusion layer 27 in the diode element region. In thisstep, a silicon oxide film having a thickness of 300 nm (3000 angstroms)is formed on the surface of the n-type well diffusion layer 27; hence,the thickness of the silicon oxide film in other regions is increased.

Then, etching is performed on the silicon oxide film covering the wholesurface of the semiconductor substrate 1 to reduce the thickness of thesilicon oxide film by 30 nm (300 angstroms).

In the step shown in FIG. 9C, the silicon oxide film that is formed onsurfaces of the LDMOS region, the diode element region, and the PMOSregion as a mask, and the residual silicon nitride film 101 that is onthe surface of the semiconductor substrate 1 in a p-well regionincluding the NMOS region are totally removed. Then, thermal oxidationprocessing is performed on the semiconductor substrate 1 to form abuffer oxide layer (not illustrated).

Then, with the silicon oxide film on surfaces of the LDMOS region, thediode element region, and the PMOS region as a mask, boron ions(indicated by crosses “X” in FIG. 9C) are implanted into thesemiconductor substrate 1 at an implantation energy of 25 keV and a doseof 2.1×10¹³ cm⁻².

FIG. 10A through FIG. 10C, continuing from FIG. 9C, are cross-sectionalviews illustrating part of the method of producing the semiconductordevice of the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 4.

In the step shown in FIG. 10A, thermal oxidation processing is performedon the semiconductor substrate 1 at a temperature of 1150° C. for 44minutes to form the p-type well diffusion layer 47 in the NMOS region.In this step, the p-type well diffusion layer 23 is formed in theelement separation region.

In the step shown in FIG. 10B, the silicon oxide film on thesemiconductor substrate 1 is totally removed, and a buffer oxide layer(not illustrated) is formed on the whole semiconductor substrate 1.

A photo resist 111 is formed, which has an opening corresponding to thelightly doped n-type well diffusion layer 13 in the LDMOS region (referto FIG. 2A through FIG. 2C).

With the photo resist 111 as a mask, phosphorus ions (indicated bytriangles “A” in FIG. 10B) are implanted into the semiconductorsubstrate 1 at an implantation energy of 100 keV and a dose of 2.0×10¹²cm⁻².

In the step shown in FIG. 10C, the photo resist 111 is removed. Then,thermal oxidation processing is performed on the semiconductor substrate1 to form the lightly doped n-type well diffusion layer 13 in the n-typewell diffusion layer 5 in the NMOS region. In this step, the bufferoxide layer becomes thick, and the silicon oxide film 113 is formed tohave a thickness of 300 nm (3000 angstroms).

FIG. 11A through FIG. 11C, continuing from FIG. 10C, are cross-sectionalviews illustrating part of the method of producing the semiconductordevice of the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 4.

In the step shown in FIG. 11A, a photo resist 115 is formed, whichcorresponds to the electric field relaxation oxide film 21 (refer toFIG. 2A through FIG. 2C) in the LDMOS region.

In the step shown in FIG. 11B, with the photo resist 115 as a mask,thermal processing is performed on the silicon oxide film 113 to formthe electric field relaxation oxide film 21 in the LDMOS region. Thenthe photo resist 115 is removed.

In the step shown in FIG. 11C, thermal oxidation processing is performedon the semiconductor substrate 1 to form the gate oxide film 17 to athickness of 25 nm (250 angstroms). The poly-silicon film 117 is formedon the gate oxide film 17. It should be noted that the electric fieldrelaxation oxide film 21 becomes thick when forming the gate oxide film17, but the gate oxide film 17 and the electric field relaxation oxidefilm 21 are illustrated as separate films in FIG. 1, FIG. 2A throughFIG. 2C, FIG. 4 and FIG. 11C for convenience of illustration.

FIG. 12A through FIG. 12C, continuing from FIG. 11C, are cross-sectionalviews illustrating part of the method of producing the semiconductordevice of the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 4.

In the step shown in FIG. 12A, a photo resist 119 is formed on thepoly-silicon film 117 to define a region where the poly-silicon gateelectrode 19 in the LDMOS region is to be formed.

The poly-silicon film 117 is patterned with the photo resist 119 as amask to form the poly-silicon gate electrode 19 on the gate oxide film17 and the electric field relaxation oxide film 21 in the LDMOS region.

In the step shown in FIG. 12B, the photo resist 119 is removed. Inaddition, the gate oxide film 17 is removed by using the poly-silicongate electrode 19 as a mask with a portion of the gate oxide film 17remaining below the poly-silicon gate electrode 19. Then, a buffer oxide(not-illustrated) is formed.

A photo resist 121 is formed, which has openings respectivelycorresponding to the p-type body diffusion layer 7 in the LDMOS region(refer to FIG. 2A through FIG. 2C) and the p-type body diffusion layer25 enclosing the LDMOS region and the diode element region (refer toFIG. 2A through FIG. 2C, and FIG. 3A through FIG. 3C). With the photoresist 121 and the gate electrode 19 as masks, boron ions (indicated bycrosses “X” in FIG. 12B) are implanted into the semiconductor substrate1 at an implantation energy of 25 keV and a dose of 2.1×10¹³ cm⁻².

In the step shown in FIG. 12C, the photo resist 121 is removed.

A photo resist 123 is formed, which has an opening corresponding to then-type body diffusion layer 31 in the diode element region (refer toFIG. 3A through FIG. 3C). Here, the photo resist 123 also has an openingcorresponding to the side of the n-type well diffusion layer (NW2) 35,which side is near the edge of the n-type well diffusion layer 27 (referto FIG. 3A through FIG. 3C).

With the photo resist 123 as a mask, phosphorus ions (indicated bytriangles “A” in FIG. 12C) are implanted into the semiconductorsubstrate 1 at an implantation energy of 100 keV and a dose in a rangefrom 8.0×10¹² cm⁻² to 20.0×10¹² cm⁻².

FIG. 13A through FIG. 13C, continuing from FIG. 12C, are cross-sectionalviews illustrating part of the method of producing the semiconductordevice of the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 4.

In the step shown in FIG. 13A, the photo resist 123 is removed. Then,thermal processing is performed on the semiconductor substrate 1 at atemperature of 1100° C. for 140 minutes to form the p-type bodydiffusion layer 7 in the n-type well diffusion layer 5 in the LDMOSregion, form the p-type body diffusion layer 25 in the p-type welldiffusion layer 23 surrounding the LDMOS region and the diode elementregion, and form the n-type body diffusion layer 31 in the p-type welldiffusion layer 29 in the diode element region.

In the diode element region, the portion of the n-type well diffusionlayer 35 implanted with phosphorus ions has a high phosphorusconcentration. For convenience, in FIG. 13A, this implanted portion andother portions of the n-type well diffusion layer 35 as a whole areillustrated as one element. In addition, a thermal oxide film is formedduring thermal processing, but illustration of the thermal oxide film isomitted.

In the step shown in FIG. 13B, a silicon nitride film 125 is depositedon the whole the thermal oxide film formed during thermal processing.The silicon nitride film 125 is patterned by using a photo resist fordefining a region where the field oxide film 3 is formed. Then, thephoto resist is removed.

In the step shown in FIG. 13C, a photo resist 127 is formed, which hasan opening corresponding to a region where the field dope layer 41(refer to FIG. 3A through FIG. 3C, and FIG. 4) is formed. The photoresist 127 covers the n-type body diffusion layer 31 and surroundings sothat impurities used in field doping are not implanted into the n-typebody diffusion layer 31 in the diode element region.

With the photo resist 127 and the silicon nitride film 125 as masks,boron ions (indicated by crosses “X” in FIG. 13C) are implanted into thesemiconductor substrate 1 at an implantation energy of 15 keV and a doseof 3.0×10¹³ cm⁻².

FIG. 14A through FIG. 14C, continuing from FIG. 12C, are cross-sectionalviews illustrating part of the method of producing the semiconductordevice of the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 4.

In the step shown in FIG. 14A, the photo resist 127 is removed.

Thermal processing is performed on the semiconductor substrate 1 at atemperature of 1000° C. for 200 minutes to form the field oxide film 3,the field oxide film 3 a, and the field oxide film 3 b (refer to FIG. 3Athrough FIG. 3C). In this step, the boron ions implanted in the stepshown in FIG. 12A thermally diffuse, and the field dope layer 41 isformed.

In the step shown in FIG. 14B, the oxide film all over the semiconductorsubstrate 1 is removed, and etching is performed to reduce the thicknessof the field oxide film 3, the field oxide film 3 a, and the field oxidefilm 3 b by 30 nm (300 angstroms).

Then, the silicon nitride film 125 is removed.

In the step shown in FIG. 14C, thermal oxidation processing is performedon the semiconductor substrate 1 to form a pre-gate oxide layer (notillustrated) having a thickness of 11 nm (110 angstroms).

A photo resist 129 is formed, which has an opening corresponding to theNMOS region. Then, channel doping is performed with the photo resist 129as a mask.

FIG. 15A through FIG. 15C, continuing from FIG. 12C, are cross-sectionalviews illustrating part of the method of producing the semiconductordevice of the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 4.

In the step shown in FIG. 15A, the photo resist 129 is removed. A photoresist 131 is formed, which has an opening corresponding to the PMOSregion.

Then, channel doping is performed with the photo resist 131 as a mask.

In the step shown in FIG. 15B, the photo resist 131 is removed. AfterRCA cleaning, thermal processing is performed on the semiconductorsubstrate 1 at a temperature of 920° C. to form a silicon oxide film 133to a thickness of 13.5 nm (135 angstroms), which is used as a gate oxidefilm. Then, a poly-silicon film 135 is formed on the silicon oxide film133 to a thickness of 35 nm (350 angstroms). Then, phosphorus ions areimplanted into the poly-silicon film 135 with implantation energy of 30keV and a dose determined according to an object resistance of theresistor element.

It should be noted that the field oxide film 3, the field oxide film 3a, the field oxide film 3 b, and the electric field relaxation oxidefilm 21 become thick when forming the silicon oxide film 133, but thesilicon oxide film 133, the field oxide film 3, the field oxide film 3a, the field oxide film 3 b, and the electric field relaxation oxidefilm 21 are illustrated as separate films in FIG. 15B for convenience ofillustration.

In the step shown in FIG. 15C, a high temperature oxide film 137 isdeposited on the poly-silicon film 135 to a thickness of 250 nm (2500angstroms). The high temperature oxide film 137 is patterned byphotoengraving and etching, while leaving a portion of the hightemperature oxide film 137 corresponding to a forming region of thepoly-silicon film 135 in a region determining the resistance of theresistor element.

With the high temperature oxide film 137 as a mask, phosphor silicateglass (PSG) is deposited on the poly-silicon film 135 and the hightemperature oxide film 137. Then thermal processing is performed on thesemiconductor substrate 1, and phosphorus ions diffuse into thepoly-silicon film 135. Thus a poly-silicon film 139 is formed, which hasa concentration of phosphorus higher than that of the poly-silicon film135. A portion of the poly-silicon film 135, which determines theresistance of the resistor element, remains below the high temperatureoxide film 137.

Then, the phosphor silicate glass (PSG) is removed.

FIG. 16A through FIG. 16C, continuing from FIG. 15C, are cross-sectionalviews illustrating part of the method of producing the semiconductordevice of the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 4.

In the step shown in FIG. 16A, the high temperature oxide film 137 isremoved.

A photo resist 141 is formed, which defines a region for gate electrodesof the MOS transistor (except for the LDMOS) and the resistor element onthe poly-silicon film 135 and the poly-silicon film 139. The photoresist 141 covers the LDMOS region.

In step shown in FIG. 16B, the poly-silicon film 135 and thepoly-silicon film 139 are patterned with the photo resist 141 as a maskto form gate electrodes 53, 63 and the resistor element 67.

A portion of the silicon oxide film 133 below the gate electrode 53constitutes a gate oxide film 51, and a portion of the silicon oxidefilm 133 below the gate electrode 63 constitutes a gate oxide film 61. Aportion of the poly-silicon film 139 remains in the LDMOS region.

Then, the photo resist 141 is removed. Next, thermal processing isperformed on the semiconductor substrate 1 to form a silicon oxide film(not illustrated) on the gate electrodes 53, 63, the resistor element67, and the poly-silicon film 139 to a thickness of 13.5 nm (135angstroms).

In the step shown in FIG. 16C, a photo resist 143 is formed, which hasopenings respectively corresponding to the p-type high concentrationdiffusion layer 11 in the LDMOS region, the PMOS region, and the p-typehigh concentration diffusion layer 39 in the diode element region (referto FIG. 3A through FIG. 3C). The reticle (photo mask) used for formingthe photo resist 143 is also used in the step shown in FIG. 18C.

With the photo resist 143 as a mask, boron ions (indicated by crosses“X” in FIG. 16C) are implanted into the semiconductor substrate 1 at animplantation energy of 15 keV and a dose of 2.0×10¹³ cm⁻². In the LDMOSregion, the boron ions are blocked by the poly-silicon film 139 andcannot arrive at the semiconductor substrate 1.

FIG. 17A through FIG. 17C, continuing from FIG. 16C, are cross-sectionalviews illustrating part of the method of producing the semiconductordevice of the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 4.

In the step shown in FIG. 17A, the photo resist 143 is removed. A photoresist 145 is formed, which has openings respectively corresponding tothe LDMOS region, the diode element region, and the NMOS region. In theLDMOS region, the photo resist 145 covers the p-type high concentrationdiffusion layer 11 (refer to FIG. 2A through FIG. 2C). The reticle(photo mask) used for forming the photo resist 145 is also used in thestep shown in FIG. 18A.

With the photo resist 145 as a mask, phosphorus ions (indicated bytriangles “Δ” in FIG. 17A) are implanted into the semiconductorsubstrate 1 at an implantation energy of 70 keV and a dose of 2.5×10¹³cm⁻². In the LDMOS region, the phosphorus ions are blocked by thepoly-silicon film 139 and cannot arrive at the semiconductor substrate1.

In the step shown in FIG. 17B, the photo resist 145 is removed. Then, ahigh temperature oxide film, which is used as a sidewall, is depositedall over the semiconductor substrate 1 to a thickness of 150 nm (1500angstroms). The high temperature oxide film is etched back, and asidewall 55 is formed on the side surface of the gate electrode 53, asidewall 65 is formed on the side surface of the gate electrode 63, anda sidewall 69 is formed on the side surface of the resistor element 67.Further, a sidewall 147 is formed on the side surface of thepoly-silicon film 139.

In the step shown in FIG. 17C, a photo resist 149 is formed, which hasan opening corresponding to the LDMOS region. With the photo resist 149as a mask, the sidewall 147, the poly-silicon film 139, and the siliconoxide film 133 are removed.

FIG. 18A through FIG. 18C, continuing from FIG. 17C, are cross-sectionalviews illustrating part of the method of producing the semiconductordevice of the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 4.

In step shown in FIG. 18A, the photo resist 149 is removed. Theaforesaid reticle in the step shown in FIG. 17A is used to form thephoto resist 145. With the photo resist 145 as a mask, arsenic ions(indicated by triangles “Δ” in FIG. 18A) are implanted into the LDMOSregion, the diode element region, and the NMOS region at an implantationenergy of 50 keV and a dose of 6.0×10¹⁵ cm⁻².

In the step shown in FIG. 18B, the photo resist 145 is removed. Thermalprocessing is performed on the semiconductor substrate 1 at atemperature of 900° C. for one hour in an nitrogen atmosphere tothermally diffuse the arsenic ions, thereby forming the n-type sourcediffusion layer 9 and the n-type high concentration diffusion layer 15in the LDMOS transistor region, the n-type high concentration diffusionlayer 33 and the n-type high concentration diffusion layer 37 in thediode element region, and n-type source and drain diffusion layer 49 inthe NMOS region.

In the step shown in FIG. 18C, the aforesaid reticle in the step shownin FIG. 16C is used to form the photo resist 143. With the photo resist143 as a mask, boron ions (indicated by crosses “X” in FIG. 18C) areimplanted into the LDMOS region, the diode element region, and the NMOSregion with implantation energy of 50 keV and a dose of 3.0×10¹⁵ cm⁻².

Afterward, the photo resist 143 is removed. Thermal processing isperformed on the semiconductor substrate 1 at a temperature of 850° C.for 27 minutes to thermally diffuse the boron ions, thereby forming thep-type high concentration diffusion layer 11 in LDMOS transistor region,the p-type high concentration diffusion layer 39 (refer to FIG. 3Athrough FIG. 3C) in the diode element region, and p-type source anddrain diffusion layer 59 in the PMOS region (refer to FIG. 4).

In the above, a method of producing the semiconductor device as shown inFIG. 4 is exemplified with reference to FIG. 7A through FIG. 18C; it iscertain that the present embodiment is not limited to the above example.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 19A through FIG. 19C illustrates a diode element according to asecond embodiment of the present invention.

Specifically, FIG. 19A is a plan view of the diode element according tothe second embodiment.

FIG. 19B is a cross-sectional view of the diode element at a positionX-X as indicated in FIG. 19A.

FIG. 19C is a cross-sectional view of the diode element at a positionY-Y as indicated in FIG. 19A.

In FIG. 19A through FIG. 19C, the same reference numbers are assigned tothe same elements as those illustrated in FIG. 3A through FIG. 3C, andoverlapping descriptions are omitted.

The diode element shown in FIG. 19A through FIG. 19C differs from thediode element shown in FIG. 3A through FIG. 3C in that a p-type highconcentration diffusion layer 39 a, which constitutes the base contactdiffusion layer of the diode element, is formed like a frame,specifically, the p-type high concentration diffusion layer 39 a isformed like strips (slit shape) adjacent to the n-type highconcentration diffusion layer 37 and in the longitudinal direction ofthe n-type body diffusion layer 31 and the n-type high concentrationdiffusion layer 33.

FIG. 20A and FIG. 20B are graphs respectively illustrating properties ofthe diode element shown in FIG. 3A through FIG. 3C, which does not havethe aforesaid slits, and the diode element shown in FIG. 19A throughFIG. 19C, which has the aforesaid slits.

Specifically, FIG. 20A presents dependence of a forward current on thetemperature, and FIG. 20B presents dependence of a reverse bias leakagecurrent on the temperature.

In FIG. 20A, the abscissa indicates the temperature (° C.), and theordinate indicates the forward current in units of mA (mili-ampere); inFIG. 20B, the abscissa indicates the temperature (° C.), and theordinate indicates the reverse bias leakage current in units of pA(pico-ampere).

In these examples, in the measurement of the reverse bias leakagecurrent, a leakage current is measured under the conditions that avoltage of 20 V is applied between the base and the emitter while thebase and the collector are shorted.

As for the dependence of the forward current on the temperature, asshown in FIG. 20A, this dependence changes little when the aforesaidslit is present compared to when the aforesaid slit is absent.

As for the dependence of the reverse bias leakage current on thetemperature, since the p-type high concentration diffusion layer 39 a(the base contact diffusion layer of the diode element) is formed toenclose the n-type body diffusion layer 31 (the emitter diffusion layerof the diode element), that is, the aforesaid slit is present, thereverse bias leakage current is small compared to the reverse biasleakage current when the aforesaid slit is not present, as the diodeelement shown in FIG. 3A through FIG. 3C.

FIG. 21A illustrates measurement results of the conversion efficiency ofa DC-DC converter, which is equivalent to the DC-DC converter shown inFIG. 5 with the diode element being replaced by the diode element shownin FIG. 19A through FIG. 19C.

FIG. 21B illustrates measurement results of the conversion efficiency ofa DC-DC converter for comparison, in which a built-in Schottky diode isused as the diode element.

In FIG. 21A and FIG. 21B, the abscissa indicates the LED current inunits of mA (mili-ampere), and the ordinate indicates the conversionefficiency (%). In addition, in the examples shown in FIG. 21A and FIG.21B, a DC power supply outputs a DC voltage of 3.6 V, the inductance ofthe coil used in the above examples is 22 μH (micro Henry), and themeasurement is made at an environmental temperature of 25° C. Theconversion efficiency is expressed as a ratio of the output consumptionpower of the DC-DC converter over the consumption power of the DC powersupply, where the consumption power equals the product of relevantcurrent and voltage.

When the LED current is 5 mA, in the example for comparison as shown inFIG. 21B, the conversion efficiency is slightly less than 70%; incomparison, in the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 21A, theconversion efficiency is near 80%.

Thus, according to the semiconductor device and the DC-DC converter ofthe present embodiment, since the LDMOS is used as the switchingelement, and a PN junction diode is used as the diode element, theleakage current can be reduced, and it is possible to improve theconversion efficiency of the step-up DC-DC converter.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 22A through FIG. 22C illustrates a diode element according to athird embodiment of the present invention.

Specifically, FIG. 22A is a plan view of the diode element according tothe third embodiment.

FIG. 22B is a cross-sectional view of the diode element at a positionX-X as indicated in FIG. 22A,

FIG. 22C is a cross-sectional view of the diode element at a positionY-Y as indicated in FIG. 22A.

In FIG. 22A through FIG. 22C, the same reference numbers are assigned tothe same elements as those illustrated in FIG. 3A through FIG. 3C, andFIG. 19A through FIG. 19C, and overlapping descriptions are omitted.

The diode element shown in FIG. 22A through FIG. 22C differs from thediode element shown in FIG. 19A through FIG. 19C in that a portion ofthe p-type high concentration diffusion layer 39 a (corresponding to thebase contact diffusion layers of the diode element) between the n-typebody diffusion layer 31 (corresponding to an emitter diffusion layer ofthe diode element) and the n-type high concentration diffusion layer 37(corresponding to a collector contact diffusion layer of the diodeelement) is separated from the n-type high concentration diffusion layer37 by a distance.

Similar to the diode element shown in FIG. 19A through FIG. 19C, thediode element of the present embodiment also has a small reverse biasleakage current compared to the diode element shown in FIG. 3A throughFIG. 3C, which does not have the slit.

FIG. 23 illustrates measurement results of the conversion efficiency ofa DC-DC converter, which is equivalent to the DC-DC converter shown inFIG. 5 with the diode element being replaced by the diode element shownin FIG. 22A through FIG. 22C.

In FIG. 23, the abscissa indicates the LED current in units of mA(mili-ampere), and the ordinate indicates the conversion efficiency (%).In this example, a DC power supply outputs a DC voltage of 3.6 V, theinductance of the coil used in the above examples is 22 μH (microHenry), and the measurement is made at an environmental temperature of25° C. The conversion efficiency is expressed as a ratio of the outputconsumption power of the DC-DC converter over the consumption power ofthe DC power supply, and the consumption power equals the product ofrelevant current and voltage.

As shown in FIG. 23, in the present embodiment, when the LED current is5 mA, the conversion efficiency is about 80%. Therefore, compared to theexample in FIG. 21B, in which a built-in Schottky diode is used as thediode element, the leakage current is reduced, and the conversionefficiency of the step-up DC-DC converter is improved.

Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 24A through FIG. 24C illustrates a diode element according to afourth embodiment of the present invention.

Specifically, FIG. 24A is a plan view of the diode element according tothe fourth embodiment.

FIG. 24B is a cross-sectional view of the diode element at a positionX-X as indicated in FIG. 24A.

FIG. 24C is a cross-sectional view of the diode element at a positionY-Y as indicated in FIG. 24A.

In FIG. 24A through FIG. 24C, the same reference numbers are assigned tothe same elements as those illustrated in FIG. 3A through FIG. 3C, andoverlapping descriptions are omitted.

The diode element shown in FIG. 24A through FIG. 24C differs from thediode element shown in FIG. 3A through FIG. 3C in that a p-type highconcentration diffusion layer 93 (corresponding to the second basediffusion layer in claims of the present application) is provided in thep-type well diffusion layer 29 below the field oxide film 3 a and to beseparated from the n-type body diffusion layer 31 (corresponding to theemitter diffusion layer of the diode element) and the n-type highconcentration diffusion layer 37 (corresponding to the collector contactdiffusion layer of the diode element) by a distance. The field oxidefilm 3 a is formed on a part of the surface of the p-type well diffusionlayer 29 (corresponding to a base diffusion layer of the diode element)between the n-type body diffusion layer 31 (the emitter diffusion layerof the diode element) and the n-type high concentration diffusion layer37 (the collector contact diffusion layer of the diode element).Moreover, the p-type high concentration diffusion layer 93 has animpurity concentration higher than that of the p-type well diffusionlayer 29.

According to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce thereverse bias leakage current (the leakage current between the collectorand the emitter) compared to the case when the p-type high concentrationdiffusion layer 93 is absent. The configuration of the presentembodiment is particularly effective in a structure in which the p-typeimpurities of the p-type well diffusion layer 29 below the field oxidefilm 3 a are sucked out by the field oxide film 3 a.

In the above, it is described that the p-type high concentrationdiffusion layer 93 (the second base diffusion layer) is provided to beseparated from the n-type body diffusion layer 31 (the emitter diffusionlayer of the diode element) and the n-type high concentration diffusionlayer 37 (the collector contact diffusion layer of the diode element) bya distance. It should be noted that the present embodiment is notlimited to this; the p-type high concentration diffusion layer 93 may beformed to be adjacent to the n-type body diffusion layer 31 or then-type high concentration diffusion layer 37, or be adjacent to both ofthe n-type body diffusion layer 31 and the n-type high concentrationdiffusion layer 37. The structure of the present embodiment can befabricated in the same way as that shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 7A throughFIG. 18C, except that the following additional step is executed betweenthe step shown in FIG. 14B and the step shown in FIG. 14C.

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a step of the method ofproducing the semiconductor device of the present embodiment as shown inFIG. 24A through FIG. 24C, which is executed between the step in FIG.14B and the step shown in FIG. 14C.

As described in the first embodiment, the field oxide films 3, 3 a, 3 bare formed in the step in FIG. 14A, and the silicon nitride film 125 isremoved in the step in FIG. 14B.

After that, in the step shown in FIG. 25, a photo resist 151 is formed,which has an opening corresponding to the position of the p-type welldiffusion layer 29 below the field oxide film 3 a. With the photo resist151 as a mask, boron ions (indicated by crosses “X” in FIG. 25) areimplanted into the p-type well diffusion layer 29 via the field oxidefilm 3 a, for example, at an implantation energy of 160 keV and a doseof 1.0×10¹² cm⁻² to 1.0×10¹³ cm⁻². Then, the photo resist 151 isremoved. For purpose of illustration, the photo resist 151 is presentedin FIG. 25.

Then, the steps shown in FIG. 14C through FIG. 18C are executed,thereby, the p-type high concentration diffusion layer 93 is formed inthe p-type well diffusion layer 29 below the field oxide film 3 a.

The boron ions, which are used to form the p-type high concentrationdiffusion layer 93, can be activated through activation treatmentspecific to the boron ions, or through the activation treatment specificto the boron ions and activation treatment for other ionssimultaneously.

Fifth Embodiment

FIG. 26A through FIG. 26C illustrates a diode element according to afifth embodiment of the present invention.

Specifically, FIG. 26A is a plan view of the diode element according tothe fifth embodiment.

FIG. 26B is a cross-sectional view of the diode element at a positionX-X as indicated in FIG. 26A.

FIG. 26C is a cross-sectional view of the diode element at a positionY-Y as indicated in FIG. 26A.

In FIG. 26A through FIG. 26C, the same reference numbers are assigned tothe same elements as those illustrated in FIG. 3A through FIG. 3C, andoverlapping descriptions are omitted.

The diode element shown in FIG. 26A through FIG. 26C differs from thediode element shown in FIG. 3A through FIG. 3C in that the field oxidefilm 3 a is provided on the surface of a portion of the p-type welldiffusion layer 29 (corresponding to the base diffusion layer of thediode element) between the n-type body diffusion layer 31 (correspondingto the emitter diffusion layer of the diode element) and the n-type highconcentration diffusion layer 37 (corresponding to the collector contactdiffusion layer of the diode element), and is separated from the n-typehigh concentration diffusion layer 37 (the collector contact diffusionlayer of the diode element) by a distance.

Moreover, the surface of the portion of the p-type well diffusion layer29 (the base diffusion layer of the diode element) between the n-typebody diffusion layer 31 (the emitter diffusion layer of the diodeelement) and the n-type high concentration diffusion layer 37 (thecollector contact diffusion layer of the diode element) is not totallycovered with the field oxide film 3 a.

Furthermore, the field dope layer 41 below the field oxide film 3 a isalso formed to be separated from the n-type high concentration diffusionlayer 37 (the collector contact diffusion layer of the diode element) bya distance.

According to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce thereverse bias leakage current (the leakage current between the collectorand the emitter) compared to the structure shown in FIG. 3A through FIG.3C, in which the surface of the portion of the p-type well diffusionlayer 29 between the n-type body diffusion layer 31 and the n-type highconcentration diffusion layer 37 is totally covered with the field oxidefilm 3 a.

The configuration of the present embodiment is particularly effective ina structure in which the p-type impurities of the p-type well diffusionlayer 29 below the field oxide film 3 a are sucked out by the fieldoxide film 3 a.

The structure of the present embodiment can be fabricated in the sameway as that shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 7A through FIG. 18C, except thatmodification should be made to designs of the photo masks used in thesteps shown in FIG. 13B, FIG. 17A, and FIG. 18A.

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a step of the method ofproducing the semiconductor device of the present embodiment as shown inFIG. 26A through FIG. 26C, which replaces the step in FIG. 13B.

As described in the first embodiment, after the step in FIG. 13A, in thesame way as shown in the step in FIG. 13B, the silicon nitride film 125is formed to define a region where the field oxide film 3 is formed.

Here, as shown by the dashed-line circles in FIG. 27, the siliconnitride film 125 is also formed on a part of the p-type well diffusionlayer 29.

That is, the step in FIG. 27 is basically the same as the step in FIG.13B except that the pattern for forming the photo mask, which is used todefine the region of the silicon nitride film 125, is different.

Then, the steps shown in FIG. 13C and FIG. 14A are executed, thereby, asdescribed with reference to FIG. 26A through FIG. 26C, the field oxidefilm 3 a is formed on the surface of the portion of the p-type welldiffusion layer 29 between the n-type body diffusion layer 31 and then-type high concentration diffusion layer 37.

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a step of the method ofproducing the semiconductor device of the present embodiment as shown inFIG. 26A through FIG. 26C, which replaces the step in FIG. 17A.

After the step in FIG. 16C, in the same way as shown in the step in FIG.17A, the photo resist 145 is formed, and with the photo resist 145 as amask, phosphorus ions (indicated by triangles “A” in FIG. 28) areimplanted.

Here, as shown by the dashed-line circles in FIG. 28, the photo resist145 is formed in such a way that the phosphorus ions are not implantedinto the p-type well diffusion layer 29.

That is, the step in FIG. 28 is basically the same as the step in FIG.18A except that the pattern of the photo mask for forming the photoresist 145 is different.

Due to this, as described with reference to FIG. 26A through FIG. 26C,the phosphorus ions are not implanted into a portion of the p-type welldiffusion layer 29 between the n-type body diffusion layer 31 and then-type high concentration diffusion layer 37, in which portion of thep-type well diffusion layer 29, the field oxide film 3 a is not formed.

FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a step of the method ofproducing the semiconductor device of the present embodiment as shown inFIG. 26A through FIG. 26C, which replaces the step in FIG. 18A.

After the step in FIG. 17C, in the same way as shown in the step in FIG.18A, the photo resist 145 is formed, and with the photo resist 145 as amask, phosphorus ions (indicated by triangles “Δ” in FIG. 29) areimplanted.

Here, as shown by the dashed-line circles in FIG. 29, the photo resist145 is formed in such a way that the phosphorus ions are not implantedinto the p-type well diffusion layer 29.

That is, the step in FIG. 29 is basically the same as the step in FIG.18A except that the pattern of the photo mask for forming the photoresist 145 is different.

Due to this, as described with reference to FIG. 26A through FIG. 26C,the n-type high concentration diffusion layer 37 is not formed in theportion of the p-type well diffusion layer 29 between the n-type bodydiffusion layer 31 and the n-type high concentration diffusion layer 37,in which portion of the p-type well diffusion layer 29, the field oxidefilm 3 a is not formed.

Then, the steps shown in FIG. 18B and FIG. 18C are executed, thereby,the structure as shown in FIG. 26A through FIG. 26C is obtained, inwhich the surface of the portion of the p-type well diffusion layer 29between the n-type body diffusion layer 31 and the n-type highconcentration diffusion layer 37 is not totally covered with the fieldoxide film 3 a.

In the above method of producing the semiconductor device of the presentembodiment, one only needs to modify designs of photo masks, and doesnot need to increase the number of steps for producing the semiconductordevice of the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 26A through FIG. 26Ccompared to the method described in the first embodiment with referenceto FIG. 4 and FIG. 7A through FIG. 18C.

In the present embodiment, it is described that the part of the surfaceof the portion of the p-type well diffusion layer 29 between the n-typebody diffusion layer 31 and the n-type high concentration diffusionlayer 37, in which part of the surface of the portion of the p-type welldiffusion layer 29, the field oxide film 3 a is not formed, is adjacentto the n-type high concentration diffusion layer 37 and is separatedfrom the n-type body diffusion layer 31 by a distance. Certainly, thepresent embodiment is not limited to this. The part of the surface ofthe portion of the p-type well diffusion layer 29, in which the fieldoxide film 3 a is not formed, may be arranged in other ways.

FIG. 30A through FIG. 30C illustrates a modification to the diodeelement of the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

Specifically, FIG. 30A is a plan view of the diode element which is amodification to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 30B is a cross-sectional view of the diode element at a positionX-X as indicated in FIG. 30A.

FIG. 30C is a cross-sectional view of the diode element at a positionY-Y as indicated in FIG. 30A.

In FIG. 30A through FIG. 30C, the same reference numbers are assigned tothe same elements as those illustrated in FIG. 26A through FIG. 26C, andoverlapping descriptions are omitted.

As shown in FIG. 30A through FIG. 30C, the part of the surface of theportion of the p-type well diffusion layer 29 between the n-type bodydiffusion layer 31 and the n-type high concentration diffusion layer 37,in which part of the surface of the portion of the p-type well diffusionlayer 29, the field oxide film 3 a is not formed, may be formed to beseparated from both the n-type body diffusion layer 31 and the n-typehigh concentration diffusion layer 37 by a distance.

Alternatively, the part of the surface of the portion of the p-type welldiffusion layer 29, in which the field oxide film 3 a is not formed, maybe formed to adjacent to the n-type body diffusion layer 31 and to beseparated from the n-type high concentration diffusion layer 37 by adistance.

In addition, a combination of two or three of a structure including thep-type high concentration diffusion layer 39 a or 39 b, a structureincluding the p-type high concentration diffusion layer 93 below thefield oxide film 3 a, and a structure in which in a portion of thep-type well diffusion layer 29, the field oxide film 3 a is not formed,can be arranged in the portion of the p-type well diffusion layer 29between the n-type-body diffusion layer 31 and the n-type highconcentration diffusion layer 37.

Because of the combination of these structures, it is possible tofurther reduce the reverse bias leakage current (the leakage currentbetween the collector and the emitter).

FIG. 31 presents measurement results of dependence of the reverse biasleakage current on the temperature of the diode elements shown in FIG.3A through FIG. 3C, FIG. 19A through FIG. 19C, FIG. 24A through FIG.24C, and FIG. 26A through FIG. 26C, respectively.

In FIG. 31, the abscissa indicates the temperature (° C.), and theordinate indicates the reverse bias leakage current in units of pA(pico-ampere).

In the measurement of the reverse bias leakage current, a leakagecurrent is measured under the conditions that a voltage of 20 V isapplied between the base and the emitter while the base and thecollector are shorted.

In the measurements shown in FIG. 31, two different samples of the diodeelement shown in FIG. 24A through FIG. 24C are used for measurement, onesample of the diode element shown in FIG. 24A through FIG. 24C is formedwith the implantation dose of the boron ions as 1.0×10¹² cm⁻² whenforming the p-type high concentration diffusion layer 93 (the secondbase diffusion layer), and the other sample of the diode element isformed with the implantation dose of the boron ions as 1.0×10¹³ cm⁻²when forming the p-type high concentration diffusion layer 93. In FIG.31, the result of the former sample is indicated by a description “FIG.24 (1.0×10¹² cm⁻²)”, and the result of the latter one is indicated by adescription “FIG. 24 (1.0×10¹³ cm⁻²)”.

FIG. 31 reveals that little leakage current occurs in the diode elementshown in FIG. 19A through FIG. 19C and the diode element of FIG. 24(1.0×10¹³ cm⁻²).

Comparing the result of the diode element of FIG. 24 (1.0×10¹² cm⁻²) tothat of the diode element of FIG. 24 (1.0×10¹³ cm⁻²), it is found thatthe magnitude of the leakage current and the temperature dependenceproperties the diode element change depending on the implantation doseof the boron ions when forming the second base diffusion layer.

Comparing the result of the diode element shown in FIG. 26A through FIG.26C (in which, the field oxide film 3 a does not cover the whole surfaceof the portion of the p-type well diffusion layer 29 between the n-typebody diffusion layer 31 and the n-type high concentration diffusionlayer 37) to the diode element shown in FIG. 3A through FIG. 3C (inwhich, the field oxide film 3 a covers the whole surface of the portionof the p-type well diffusion layer 29 between the n-type body diffusionlayer 31 and the n-type high concentration diffusion layer 37), it isfound that the leakage current is reduced in the diode element shown inFIG. 26A through FIG. 26C.

Further, from the results shown in FIG. 31, it is found that in thediode elements, surface leakage is dominant.

While the present invention is described with reference to specificembodiments chosen for purpose of illustration, it should be apparentthat the invention is not limited to these embodiments, but numerousmodifications could be made thereto by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the basic concept and scope of the invention.

For example, the LDMOS used as the switching element is not limited tothe above examples. Any LDMOS transistor can be used as long as theLDMOS transistor includes a source diffusion layer, a channel diffusionlayer having a conductivity opposite to that of the source diffusionlayer and enclosing the side surface and the bottom surface of thesource diffusion layer, and a drain diffusion layer having conductivitythe same as that of the source diffusion layer and adjacent to the outerside of the channel diffusion layer; and the surface of a channeldiffusion layer below a gate electrode acts as a channel region.

In addition, the diode element of the present invention is not limitedto the above examples. Any diode element can be used as long as thediode element has a vertical bipolar transistor, which includes acollector diffusion layer, a base diffusion layer having a conductivityopposite to that of the collector diffusion layer and formed on thecollector diffusion layer, and an emitter diffusion layer having aconductivity the same as that of the collector diffusion layer andformed on the base diffusion layer.

In the above embodiments, a p-type semiconductor substrate is used;certainly, an n-type semiconductor substrate may also be used.

in the above embodiments, an n-channel LDMOS is used as the switchingelement; certainly, the switching element may also be a p-channel LDMOS.

In the above embodiments, the diode element has a structure of an npnvertical bipolar transistor; certainly, the diode element may also havea pnp vertical bipolar transistor structure.

In the semiconductor device of the present invention, one of then-channel LDMOS and the p-channel LDMOS, which constitutes the switchingelement, and one of the npn vertical bipolar transistor and the pnpvertical bipolar transistor structure, which constitutes the diodeelement, can be combined in any manner as desired.

Note that sometime it is necessary to limit the diode element to the npnvertical bipolar transistor structure depending on the application ofthe DC-DC converter, for example, when the DC-DC converter is used forlighting LEDs.

The DC-DC converter of the present invention is not limited to thestructure shown in FIG. 5, any step-up DC-DC converter can be used aslong as the step-up DC-DC converter includes a semiconductor devicehaving a switching element formed of a LDMOS transistor, a diode elementhaving a vertical bipolar transistor structure, a switching terminal, anoutput terminal, a coil connected to the switching terminal, and acapacitor connected to the output terminal.

This patent application is based on Japanese Priority PatentApplications No. 2006-165589 filed on June 15, 2006 and No. 2007-090883filed on Mar. 30, 2007, the entire contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

1. A semiconductor device used in a step-up DC-DC converter, comprising:a switching element; a diode element formed in the same semiconductorsubstrate as the switching element; a switching terminal; and an outputterminal, wherein the switching element includes a LDMOS transistorhaving a channel region formed of a surface portion of a channeldiffusion layer below a gate electrode of the LDMOS, said LDMOStransistor including a source diffusion layer, a channel diffusion layerthat has a conductivity opposite to a conductivity of the sourcediffusion layer, and is formed to enclose a side surface and a bottomsurface of the source diffusion layer, and a drain diffusion layer thathas a conductivity the same as the conductivity of the source diffusionlayer, and is formed outside and neighboring the channel diffusionlayer, the diode element includes a vertical bipolar transistorincluding a collector diffusion layer that forms a collector of thediode element, a base diffusion layer that has a conductivity oppositeto a conductivity of the collector diffusion layer, and forms a base ofthe diode element in the collector diffusion layer, said base beingconnected to the collector, and an emitter diffusion layer that has aconductivity the same as the conductivity of the collector diffusionlayer, and forms an emitter of the diode element in the base diffusionlayer, thereby producing a diode between the base and the emitter,wherein a drain of the switching element and an anode of the diodeelement are connected to the switching terminal, and a cathode of thediode element is connected to the output terminal.
 2. The semiconductordevice as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diode element has a basecontact diffusion layer that has a conductivity the same as theconductivity of the base diffusion layer, and is formed in the basediffusion layer, and the base contact diffusion layer is separated fromthe emitter diffusion layer at an interval and is formed to enclose theemitter diffusion layer.
 3. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim2, further comprising: a collector contact diffusion layer that has aconductivity the same as the conductivity of the collector diffusionlayer, and is formed in the collector diffusion layer; wherein a portionof the base contact diffusion layer arranged between the emitterdiffusion layer and the collector contact diffusion layer is formed tobe adjacent to the collector contact diffusion layer.
 4. Thesemiconductor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diode elementcomprises: a collector contact diffusion layer that has a conductivitythe same as the conductivity of the collector diffusion layer, and isformed on a surface of the collector diffusion layer; a field oxide filmthat is formed from a LOCOS oxide film deposited on a surface of aportion of the base diffusion layer between the emitter diffusion layerand the collector contact diffusion layer; and a second base diffusionlayer that is disposed on a portion of the base diffusion layer belowthe field oxide film, wherein an impurity concentration of the secondbase diffusion layer is higher than an impurity concentration of thebase diffusion layer.
 5. The semiconductor device as claimed in claim 1,wherein the diode element comprises: a collector contact diffusion layerthat has a conductivity the same as the conductivity of the collectordiffusion layer, and is formed on a surface of the collector diffusionlayer; and a field oxide film that is formed from a LOCOS oxide filmdeposited on a surface of a portion of the base diffusion layer betweenthe emitter diffusion layer and the collector contact diffusion layer,wherein a part of the surface of the portion of the base diffusion layerbetween the emitter diffusion layer and the collector contact diffusionlayer is not covered with the field oxide film.
 6. The semiconductordevice as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drain diffusion layer and thecollector diffusion layer have the same impurity concentrationdistribution.
 7. A step-up DC-DC converter, comprising: a semiconductordevice; a coil; and a capacitor; wherein the semiconductor deviceincludes a switching element; a diode element formed in the samesemiconductor substrate as the switching element; a switching terminalconnected to the coil; and an output terminal connected to one end ofthe capacitor; wherein the switching element includes a LDMOS transistorhaving a channel region formed of a surface portion of a channeldiffusion layer below a gate electrode of the LDMOS, said LDMOStransistor including a source diffusion layer, a channel diffusion layerthat has a conductivity opposite to a conductivity of the sourcediffusion layer, and is formed to enclose a side surface and a bottomsurface of the source diffusion layer, and a drain diffusion layer thathas a conductivity the same as the conductivity of the source diffusionlayer, and is formed outside and neighboring the channel diffusionlayer, the diode element includes a vertical bipolar transistorcomprising: a collector diffusion layer that forms a collector of thediode element, a base diffusion layer that has a conductivity oppositeto a conductivity of the collector diffusion layer, and forms a base ofthe diode element in the collector diffusion layer, said base beingconnected to the collector, and an emitter diffusion layer that has aconductivity the same as the conductivity of the collector diffusionlayer, and forms an emitter of the diode element in the base diffusionlayer, whereby a diode is produced between the base and the emitter,wherein a drain of the switching element and an anode of the diodeelement are connected to the switching terminal, a cathode of the diodeelement is connected to the output terminal, one end of the coil isconnected to the switching terminal, and one end of the capacitor isconnected to the output terminal.